Suspended sentence for theft

A man who had received a suspended sentence went out and stole a mobile phone less than six weeks later Derry Magistrate’s Court heard today.

Mark O’Neill (39) of Goshaden Cottages in Ardmore admitted stealing the phone on May 22 last.

The court was told that an employee of a shop had left her phone on the counter to charge and when she went to check it she found that it had gone.

An examination of CCTV revealed the defendant stealing the phone.

Defence barrister Mr. Stephen Mooney said O’Neill was ‘no stranger to the court’. He said he had alcohol and drug addiction problems and stole to feed them.He said in this case it had been ‘an impulsive gesture’